Posted by SLS on April 23, 2001, at 14:47:03
In reply to Longterm safety of SSRI's and other psych. drugs, posted by Ryan on April 22, 2001, at 21:56:01
Hi Ryan.
I am not sure what you read. I think the changes in neurotransmitter receptors you read about are those that are supposed to happen with these drugs. It is thought that it is exactly these changes, and changes like them, that are responsible for how antidepressants work. If you notice, these changes became apparant at 14 days, the same amount of time delay that is needed for antidepressants to begin working. Some doctors think that the change in the sensitivity or numbers of these receptors represents an adjustment made to a system that is not regulated properly. Scientists really don't know yet.
I hope this helps to allay your fears. People have been taking those antidepressant drugs that have changed receptor sensitivity for over 40 years. Some of them have been smiling for that long.
- Scott
> My problem is that I am afraid to take any medication anymore. I read a study that stated that Prozac, Zoloft, Pondimin, and Meridia change the shape of seretonin receptors in the brains of rats after only 14 days of administration of extremely high doses. It isn't known if these changes are permanent or harmful. I'm angry that this study wasn't done BEFORE the drugs were released. I thought these studies were done before the drugs are cleared by the FDA. I'm now scared of taking ANYTHING because of this. If anyone knows of other research on this subject or other ways of treating my problems PLEASE post.
poster:SLS
thread:1356
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010417/msgs/60871.html